Chapter 11: Descent into Despair: A Fart, Three Beasts, and a Shattered Frame

Meanwhile, events were unfolding on the surface as well.

Following the road collapse within the tunnel, the government immediately dispatched personnel to seal off its entrances and exits, preventing further victims from falling into the chasm.

According to one fortunate driver, he had been navigating the tunnel without incident when it suddenly began to vibrate incessantly, and cracks started to spiderweb across its interior, terrifying him into believing a full collapse was imminent.

To his shock, the road ahead abruptly gave way, and several vehicles still upon it plunged into the abyss.

Fortunately, he had managed to leap from his car in time, for otherwise, he would surely have plummeted alongside them.

When he reached the site of the collapse, intending to check on his beloved car and inquire about insurance claims, he was utterly dumbfounded.

The section of road before him had vanished entirely, leaving behind only a bottomless cavern.

Considering the possibility that this incident was the work of Evolved Beasts, the authorities promptly dispatched a specialized team to investigate the situation.

Upon receiving their orders, the team swiftly arrived at one of the tunnel’s entrances, successfully reaching the cavern opening described by the driver.

“Well, I’ll be damned.

To have dug a hole this deep… the Evolved Beast responsible for such a feat must undoubtedly be a Drill Mouse.”

Team Leader Zhu, a man of extensive experience, merely glanced at the cavern’s depth and immediately identified the true culprit behind the incident.

While some other Evolved Beasts possessed digging capabilities, only the Drill Mouse could excavate a cavern of such profound depth.

“Captain, the drone is ready.

Here.”

Having been forewarned of the nature of the incident, they had prepared a reconnaissance drone before deployment, intending to detect survivors and Evolved Beast activity below.

Naturally, the cavern’s depth was also of paramount importance.

If it wasn’t excessively deep, they could descend to engage the Evolved Beasts in combat.

However, if the depth proved insurmountable for them, their only recourse would be to request Superpower users for assistance.

Soon, the drone relayed its detected intelligence.

“A cavern depth of approximately 800 meters, 22 survivors remaining, and three Evolved Beast signatures?

This is beyond our capacity.

We need to request Superpower users from headquarters for backup.”

Eight hundred meters underground?

What a joke.

That depth was simply not traversable for ordinary individuals without extensive preparation.

Only Superpower users, with their physical capabilities far exceeding those of normal humans, could descend to such a place without hindrance.

Moreover, with three Drill Mice present and the subterranean environment favoring them, simultaneously engaging the Drill Mice and rescuing survivors under such conditions would be an insurmountable challenge.

Their only hope now was for the Superpower users dispatched by headquarters to swiftly descend and neutralize the three Drill Mice, allowing the team to focus solely on rescue efforts afterward.

“Captain, bad news.”

“What is it?”

“Just now, the drone detected an additional Evolved Beast signature below.”

“What?

This is utterly maddening.”

Witnessing yet another red dot appear on the tablet, Team Leader Zhu felt his head might split open.

Why another one?

And at this precise moment?

Just how many Evolved Beasts were lurking down there?

****

Meanwhile, let us return to Liu Xingluo, who had plummeted into the depths below.

Witnessing the Drill Mouse poised to unleash a massacre upon the bus’s occupants, Liu Xingluo grew increasingly anxious.

Although he knew that by seizing the opportunity to hide, he would likely survive until rescue arrived—and he had, after all, promised Liu Ruyan to protect his own life—he simply could not bring himself to stand by and watch others die in his stead.

Pfft…

Just as Liu Xingluo was still desperately pondering how to attract the Drill Mouse’s attention while ensuring his own safety, he… inadvertently let out a fart.

Normally, this would be inconsequential; in such a perilous situation, not only passing gas but even soiling oneself would be entirely understandable.

Yet, precisely then, upon hearing Liu Xingluo’s flatulence, the Drill Mouse abruptly spun its head around, refocusing its attention squarely on him.

“Huh?”

Even Liu Xingluo himself was baffled by this turn of events.

‘Why had the Drill Mouse suddenly shifted its attention back to him?’

‘Could it be that it interpreted his recent flatulence as a direct provocation?’

‘If that were truly the case, he was in grave peril, for he hadn’t yet formulated a plan to evade its attacks once its attention was fixed upon him.’

However, Liu Xingluo had no time to dwell on such thoughts, as the creature was already charging toward him; his only recourse now was incessant flight until rescue arrived.

“Hey, hey, hey, must you be so petty?

It was just a little fart, you know.

Is it really necessary to chase me like this?”

As he desperately fled, Liu Xingluo uttered a string of incoherent words, yes, even he himself was unaware of the meaning behind his recent outburst.

After all, Evolved Beasts couldn’t comprehend human language.

Just as Liu Xingluo was making his escape, a hole suddenly burst open in the wall to his left, and another Drill Mouse surged forth.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.

Another one?

How much worse could my luck possibly get… huh?”

Before Liu Xingluo could finish lamenting his recent streak of misfortune, a third Drill Mouse burst through the ceiling, landing beside him.

“I… I… I…”

The turn of events had far exceeded Liu Xingluo’s wildest expectations, leaving him so terrified that his words stumbled out incoherently.

‘What had he possibly done to deserve attracting the attention of three Drill Mice?’

‘He was just an ordinary office worker… oh, no, today was his first day, so perhaps a prospective office worker.’

He knew well that an ordinary person facing even a single Evolved Beast was destined for a one-sided slaughter.

Now, he was confronted with three Evolved Beasts simultaneously.

Unless a miracle occurred, he was certain to perish here.

[It seems I’m destined to meet my end here today.

I’m sorry, Big Sister, I’m going to join Mom and Dad a step ahead.]

Offering a silent apology to Liu Ruyan in his heart, Liu Xingluo could only close his eyes and await his impending demise.

There was nothing more to be done; in this desperate situation, he was utterly powerless.

As if sensing its prey had surrendered, the first Drill Mouse that had pursued Liu Xingluo reactivated its drill and lunged toward him, intent on delivering a swift end.

Snap!

“Oh?!”

Still applying her makeup at home, Liu Ruyan suddenly heard a sound from the living room, like something crashing onto the floor, and hurried to investigate.

It was the picture frame, holding a photograph of their family of four, that had fallen and shattered on the ground.

Curiously, only the glass on Liu Xingluo’s side of the photo was cracked.

It seemed as though something terrible had transpired.

“Xiao Luo?”

Whether it was an innate blood connection between siblings or merely the psychological effect of the shattered frame, she couldn’t say.

Her younger brother seemed to have encountered something truly dreadful.

Could it be that he, too, had departed from her?